Lawyer: Zaldy wants to be transferred for medical reasons

The legal counsel of suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Rizaldy “Zaldy" Ampatuan on Saturday confirmed that his client wanted to be transferred to a detention cell separate from his fellow detained relatives in Taguig City. In an interview with GMA News Online, lawyer Howard Calleja said their camp is requesting a separate cell for Zaldy, who is accused along with five of his relatives of 57 counts of murder, due to “valid medical concerns that need to be addressed." “Everybody knows that my client is suffering from diabetes and other illnesses... Ang selda nila ngayon ay maliit. Hindi naman namin sinasabi na nag-uumpugan na sila doon [sa sikip], pero maliit talaga ang kulungan," Calleja said of Zaldy's cell inside the Quezon City Jail Annex. The lawyer pointed out that due to Zaldy’s condition, the suspended governor's immune system is already “compromised." “Kaya kung may sakaling ubuhin doon o kaya baka may lagnatin doon, puwede siya mahawa," Calleja said, noting that his client frequently visits the infirmary inside the compound to have his health condition monitored. Amid reports of special treatment of the detained Ampatuans, Interior Sec. Jesse Robredo last Monday made a surprise inspection at the QC Jail Annex and found Zaldy inside the infirmary. Zaldy reportedly explained to Robredo that he had to visit the health facility because he has been “insulin-dependent since 2001." Calleja said he has already made a formal request to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology regarding the transfer. Zaldy used to stay at Cell No. 1 together with the other accused Ampatuan clan members, including his father and clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brothers Andal Jr. and Sajid. Last week, QC Jail Annex warden Senior Inspector Edward Camus confirmed that Zaldy has already been “isolated" from his other jailed relatives after "quarrels" erupting among them. Zaldy has since been transferred to Cell No. 6, Camus said, adding that the suspended governor no longer has “good rapport" with his relatives and their wives. Calleja refused to confirm or deny that the reported spat between Zaldy and his father was a factor for the transfer. “Hindi namin napag-uusapan kasi iyon about sa rumored away nila and it is not something that is brought to my attention so I am not in a position to comment on that," he stressed. The lawyer said he last visited his client in May. Security reasons Calleja also said security was in part another reason for their request of transfer. “Hindi mo kasi masabi kung maraming nagtatangka sa kanila [Ampatuans]. Baka ma-compromise ang security nila." It was not the first time suspects in the grisly massacre had to be transferred. In September last year, the court ordered that 15 suspect policemen be placed in a separate detention cell after the prosecution claimed that cops were being threatened by their fellow accused — the Ampatuans — if they do not testify in favor of the powerful clan. Zaldy, his relatives, and other members of their alleged private army and local policemen in Maguindanao are facing murder charges for the killing of 57 people, including 32 journalists, in what is considered the worst election-related violence in Philippine history. The incident has been popularly called the Maguindanao massacre and happened on November 23, 2009 on an isolated, grassy portion of Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town. — JE, GMA News